Part 11 (1/2)
_Hydraulic rams._
A hydraulic ram is the cheapest method of pumping water, provided that the necessary flow with a sufficient head to do the work is available.
It requires about seven times as much water to flow through the ram and be wasted as is pumped, so that if it is desired to pump five hundred gallons a day, the stream must flow at the rate of about thirty-five hundred gallons per day to lift the necessary water.
The two disadvantages of a ram are, first, that a fall of water is not always obtainable or that the stream flow is not always sufficient, and second, that the action of the ram is subject to interruptions on account of the acc.u.mulation of air in summer and on account of the formation of ice in winter. In fact, in winter it is necessary to keep a small fire going in the house where the ram is at work in order that this interruption may not take place. Its great advantage is that it requires no attendance, no expense for maintenance, and practically nothing for repairs. It operates continuously when once started, and, except for the occasional interruption on account of air-lock, is always on duty.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 44.--Installation of ram.]
Usually the water is led from above the dam or waterfall in a pipe to the ram and flows away after pa.s.sing through the ram, back into the stream. The water pumped is generally taken from the same stream and is a part of the water used to operate the ram. This is not necessary, however, and double-acting rams are manufactured which will pump a supply of water from a source entirely different from that which operates the ram. The following table from the Rife Hydraulic Engine Manufacturing Co. gives the dimensions and approximate costs of rams suitable for pumping against a head not greater than about thirty feet for each foot of fall available in the drive pipe:--
TABLE XI
======+=======================+=======+=========+===============+
Gallons per
Dimensions
Size
Size
Minute
-------+-------+-------
of
of
required
Drive-
Delivery
to operate
Number
Height
Length
Width
pipe
-pipe
Engine
------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+---------------+ 10
2' 1”
3' 2”
1' 8”
1-1/4”
3/4”
2-1/2 to 6
15
2' 1”
3' 4”
1' 8”
1-1/2”
3/4”
6 to 12
20
2' 3”
3' 8”
1' 9”
2”
1”
8 to 18
25
2' 3”
3' 9”
1' 9”
2-1/2”
1”
11 to 24
30
2' 7”
3' 10”
1' 10”
3”
1-1/4”
15 to 35
40
3' 3”
4' 4”
2' 0”
4”
2”
30 to 75
80
7' 4”
8' 4”
2' 8”
8”
4”
150 to 350
120
8' 9”
8' 4”
2' 8”
12”
5”
375 to 700
120
8' 9”
8' 4”
2' 8”
2-12”
6”
750 to 1400
======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=========+================+
=======+===========+========+========+=======
Least Feet
Price
Price
of Fall
Single-
Double- Number
Recommended
Weight
acting
acting -------+-----------+--------+--------+------- 10
3
150
$ 50
$ 65 15
3
175
55
70 20
2
225
60
75 25
2
250
66
81 30
2
275
75
90 40
2
600
150
170 80
2
2200
525
575 120
2
3000
750
850 120
2
6000
1500
1700 =======+===========+========+========+=======
If the length of the discharge pipe is more than a hundred feet, the effect of friction is to reduce the amount of water pumped, but rams will operate successfully against a head of three or four hundred feet.
The writer remembers an installation in the northern part of New York State, where two large hydraulic rams furnish the water-supply supply for an entire village, pumping every day several hundred thousand gallons. Figure 44 shows an installation by the Power Specialty Co. of New York, using the fall of some rapids in a brook to pump water into a tank in the attic of a house.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45.--Means of securing fall for hydraulic ram.]
In Fig. 45 are shown two methods of securing a fall for hydraulic rams, recommended by the Niagara Hydraulic Engine Co. The first method shows no drain pipe, but a long drive pipe; while the second method puts the ram in an intermediate position, with considerable lengths of each.
There are other methods of utilizing the fall of a stream, but usually they involve a greater outlay for the construction of a dam and other appurtenances. An old-fas.h.i.+oned bucket water wheel may be used, which, though not efficient, utilizes the power of the stream. The wheel may be belted or geared to a pump directly or may drive a dynamo, the power of which may in turn be transmitted to the pump. The objection to such construction usually is that during the summer the small streams which could be made of service at slight expense run dry or nearly so, while the expense of damming and utilizing a large stream where the water-supply is always sufficient is too great for a single house.
_Hot-air engines._
The simplest kind of a pump worked mechanically is the Rider-Ericsson hot-air engine (see Fig. 46), which is made to go by the expansive force of hot air. The fuel used may be wood, coal, kerosene oil, gasolene, or gas, the amount used being very moderate and the daily expense of maintenance very small.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 46.--A hot-air engine.]
For a number of years the writer used one of these machines to pump water from a tank in his cellar to a tank in the attic, so that running water could be had throughout the house. With an engine and pump costing $100, it was necessary to pump twice a week for about an hour to supply the attic tank and to furnish the necessary water for the family. The following table shows the dimensions, the capacity, and the fuel consumption of the different styles of pumps made by this company:--
TABLE XII
=========+===========+===========+=========+==========+============+======
Suction
and
Anthracite
Size of
Discharge
Capacity
Cu. Ft.
Kerosene
Coal Per
Cylinder
Pipe
Per Hour
of Gas
Per Hour
Hour
Price ---------+-----------+-----------+---------+----------+------------+------ 5”
3/4”
150 gal.
12
1 qt.
4 lb.
$ 90 6”
1”
300 gal.
16
2 qt.
4 lb.
130 8”
1-1/4”
500 gal.
20
2 qt.
5 lb.
160 10”
1-1/2”
1000 gal.
50
3 qt.
6 lb.
240 =========+===========+===========+=========+==========+============+======
_Gas engines for pumping._
During the last few years, on account of the great demand for gas engines for power boats and automobiles, the efficiency and reliability of these engines depending upon the explosive power of the mixture of gas and air has greatly increased. To-day, probably no better device for furnis.h.i.+ng a satisfactory source of power in small quant.i.ties at a reasonable cost can be found. One engine might readily be used in several capacities, pumping water during the day or at intervals during the day when not needed for running feed cutters; and possibly running a dynamo for electric lights at night. It would be easy to arrange the gas engine so that a s.h.i.+ft of a belt would transfer the power of the engine from a dynamo to a pump or to other machinery. In this case the pump is entirely distinct and separate from the engine, and while the gas engine may be directly connected with the pump and bolted to the same bed plate, if the engine is to be used for other purposes than pumping, an intermediate and changeable belt is desirable.
The term ”gas engine” is properly restricted to engines literally consuming gas, either illuminating gas or natural gas; but the term is also applied to engines using gasolene as a fuel. The same principle is used in the construction of oil engines where kerosene oil is the fuel instead of gasolene, and it is probable that the latter engines are safer; that is, less subject to dangerous explosion than the former.
Whichever fuel is used, the engine may be had in sizes ranging from one half to twenty horsepower and are very satisfactory to use. Any ordinary, intelligent laborer with a little instruction can start and operate them, and except for occasional interruptions they may be depended upon to work regularly. The cost of operation with different fuels may be estimated from the following table, which also shows the cost when coal is used as in an ordinary steam plant, the data being furnished by the Otto Gas Engine Works:--
TABLE XIII
=================+=================+====================+===============
Fuel Consumption
Cost of Fuel
Per Brake H.-P.
Per Brake Fuel
Price of Fuel
10 Hours
H.-P. 10 Hours -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Gasolene
10c per gal.
1.25 gal.
12.5c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Illuminating gas
$1.00 per 1000
180 cu. ft.
18c
cu. ft.
-----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Natural gas
25c per 1000
130 to 160 cu. ft.
3.25 to 4c
cu. ft.
-----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Producer gas,
anthracite
pea coal
$4.00 per ton
15 lb.
2.67c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Producer gas,
charcoal
$10.00 per ton
12 lb.
5.35c -----------------+-----------------+--------------------+--------------- Bituminous coal,
ordinary
steam engine
$3.00 per ton
80 to 100 lb.
10.7 to 13.4c =================+=================+====================+===============
A photograph of a small (2 H.P.) gas engine made by the Foos Gas Engine Co. with pump complete is shown in Fig. 47. This pump will lift forty gallons of water per minute, with a suction lift up to twenty-five feet, to a height of about seventy-five feet above the pump. The pump gear can be thrown out of connection with the engine, so that the latter can be used for other purposes where power is desired.
_Steam pumps._
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47.--A gas engine.]
The use of a steam pump would probably not be considered for a single house unless a small boiler was already installed for other purposes.
Not infrequently a boiler is found in connection with a dairy for the purpose of furnis.h.i.+ng steam and hot water for was.h.i.+ng and sterilizing bottles and cans. Where silage is stored in quant.i.ty, a steam boiler and engine are often employed for the heavy work of cutting up fodder. In both these cases it may be a simple matter to connect a small duplex pump with the installed boiler, as is done frequently in creameries, for the sake of pumping the necessary water-supply for the house. Whenever extensive improvements are contemplated, it is well worth while to consider the possibilities of one boiler operating the different kinds of machinery referred to. In Fig. 48 is shown a small pump, made by The Goulds Manufacturing Co., capable of lifting forty-eight gallons of water per minute against a head of a hundred feet. The diameter of piston is four inches and the length of stroke is six inches. It is operated by a belt from a steam engine used for other purposes as well.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48.--Pump operated by belt.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49.--Duplex pump, operated directly by steam.]
TABLE XIV
==========+==========+========+=============+=============+=========+ Diameter
Diameter
Length
Gallons of Steam
of Water
of
Gallons per
Revolutions
per Cylinders
Pistons
Stroke
Revolution
per Minute
Minute ----------+----------+--------+-------------+-------------+---------+ 3
3/4
3
0.019
80
1.5 3
1
3
0.033
80
2.6 4-1/2
1
4
0.044
75
3.6
4-1/2
1-1/4
4
0.064
75
4.8 5-1/4
1-1/4
5
0.08
70
5.6 5-1/4
1-3/4
5
0.18
70
12.7
6
1-3/4
6
0.22
65
14.0 6
2
6
0.29
65
19.0 6
2-1/4
6
0.38
65
25.0
7-1/2
2-1/2
6
0.38
65
25.0 6
2-1/2
6
0.48
65
31.0 7-1/2
2-1/2
6
0.048
65
31.0
7-1/2
2-3/4
6
0.056
65
36.0 9
2-3/4
6
0.056
65
36.0 9
3-1/2
6
0.079
65
51.0 ==========+==========+========+=============+=============+=========+
==========+======================================+==================
Size of Pipes for
Approximate
Short Lengths To be
s.p.a.ce Occupied
increased as Length Increases
Feet and Inches +-------+---------+---------+----------+--------+--------- Diameter
of Steam
Steam
Exhaust
Suction
Delivery
Cylinders
Pipe
Pipe
Pipe
Pipe
Length
Width ----------+-------+---------+---------+----------+--------+------ 3
3/8
1/2
1-1/4
1
2 9
1 0 3
3/8
1/2
1-1/4
1
2 9
1 1 4-1/2
1/2
3/4
2
1-1/2
2 10
1 1
4-1/2
1/2
3/4
2
1-1/2
2 10
1 1 5-1/4
3/4
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 1
1 4 5-1/4
3/4
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 1
1 4
6
1
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 5
1 5 6
1
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 5
1 5 6
1
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 5
1 5
7-1/2
1-1/2
2
4
3
3 6
1 6 6
1
1-1/4
1-1/2
1
3 5
1 5 7-1/2
1-1/2
2
4
3
3 6
1 9
7-1/2
1-1/2
2